Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-07-14
DIR. CROSS FREE.
The End Of n Murder Case that Has
Attracted RIucl, Attention.

RED OAK, July S--Dr. Il. ID. Cross,
who shot and killed DR.. A. b. Mckunc
in quarrel on n public street In Council
Bluffs, on the evening Of September "a,
1883, Is free man to-day for the first
time since the fatal ARRAY. The case has
been on trial here for fifteen days and
this morning the jury came in with II
verdict of not guilty, having delibcrated
over night, the case having been sub.
mltted TO them at II 10 o clock last night
Their first ballot stood seven for acquittal
and five for conviction. This was the
second trial Of the case The first trial
occurred at Glenwood, In March, 1888,
change Of venue having been obtained
from Pottawattamie county to Mills
county. AT that trial the jury brought
in verdict Of murder in the first degree
and fixed the punishment at death. Judge
Loufbourrow, of Atlantic, was the presid-
ing Judge and sentenced DIR. Cross to be
hung June 10. 1886. DR.. Cross was
taken to Fort Madison to await execution
of sentence and came near dying there
from the close confinement in the dark
and solitary prison cell. The case was
taken to the supreme court and that court
reversed IL and sent II back for new
trial. Another change Of venue was had
and the case brought TO this county. com
ing to trial June %. Judge Deemcr pre-
siding.
The shooting occurred on September
"a, 1883, about clock in the evening,
1t was just getting dusk, the day being q
was an anniversary of the marriage of
tln nE,
had been passed in pleasant manner with
friends at the Cross residence, which was
hardly block west Of where the shoot
ing took place. DIR. McKunc's house was
also on First avenue, about block west
Of the Cross residence. Dr. Cross left his
home shortly before six o clock to meet
n boy whom he had sent on an errand,
DR.. McKune was on his way TO supper,
and the two men coming In contact, were
soon engaged in deadly struggle A
very bitter feeling had ex 'sted between
them for three years or more, growing out
Of professional rivalry and q grand jury
case, in which Gross had testified against
McKune, the latter claimed maliciously
and wilfully. Who began the quarrel is
q matter of doubt, and one of the points
for the decision of the jury. The
contest was short one, but each man re-
ccivcd fist wounds in the face and about
the head. Cross drew pistol and II was
grasped by McKune rs the former was
bringing it from his pocket. A short but
terrible struggle for the weapon cnsucd,
in the course Of which Cross pulled the
trigger and The pistol was discharged, the
ball passing through Crosss left hand,
which was over the muzzlc Of the pistol
and almost through McKune's body The
shot was instantly fatal to McKunc, the
ball passing through the heart or the pul.
monary artery. The pistol was Of 80 cal
ibrc and the bullet quite a large one.
Cross went to the gate Of his dooryard
and returned for his hat Then he went
home and dressed his wounded hand, and
tho sheriff came and took him to Jail.
Both men were above ordinary height,
but McKunc is credited with being the
heavier and more muscular man OF tho